A social sector leader’s BEST advice for NGOs in India | Govind Iyer

Episode 6 | Decoding Impact - Season 4

Host: Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Sattva Consulting

Guest: Govind Iyer, a Member on the Board of Trustees of The Rockefeller Foundation, Chairperson, SVP India, and Independent Director of Infosys & Karmayogi Bharat

Social sector spending in India is gaining momentum. Domestic philanthropy grew 7% y-o-y to ₹1.31 lakh crore (FY24), while CSR investments reached ₹34,000 crore in FY23–24 (Bain–Dasra India Philanthropy Report 2025; Sattva Consulting, CSR’s Next Act 2025).

As funding becomes more strategic and systems-focused, how can nonprofits position themselves to truly leverage this shift?

Govind Iyer, drawing on his experience across philanthropy, NGOs, and leadership, shares grounded, actionable insights with Rathish on what it takes to create long-term impact. Together, they unpack:

• Why leadership skills are essentials—not overheads—for nonprofits

• How NGOs can build and sustain donor trust

• What growing CSR and domestic philanthropy mean for the sector

• What real systems change looks like—and where India’s most urgent challenges lie

  
  

  Topics covered:

  1. Intro to the current social sector spending landscape

  2. Lessons for nonprofit leaders

  3. How can we encourage Indians to give more & how nonprofits can build trust among (potential) donors

  4. Rethinking what a “return” looks like in impact

  5. How to unlock giving at scale

  6. How CSR strategies are evolving

  7. The importance of CSR forums & platforms for collaborations

  8. How philanthropy can leverage government social spending + systems change

  9. How to strengthen nonprofit delivery capabilities & why donors should care